1st Sunday of Lent 2025 - The devil hates Lent

In Old Testament times, soldiers and warriors would be anointed with oil before battle.  Today’s Gospel immediately follows Jesus' anointing by the Holy Spirit at his Baptism.  Like the soldiers and warriors of old, following his anointing, Jesus is led by the Spirit to do battle in the desert with Satan.

Why the desert? In scripture, the desert is not only a place of trial and challenge, but the dwelling of the evil spirits and desert predators.  Well, in the desert, Jesus encountered the greatest of predators—the Devil—of whom Saint Peter says “lurks like a prowling lion looking for souls to devour”.  This is the same predator that lurked in the garden of Eden under the form of a serpent.

Why did Jesus go to the desert? After all, it’s the very first thing he does after his baptism in the Jordan. He goes to the desert—into Satan's territory—deliberately—to show us that he has come to defeat evil. In his first New Testament letter, St. John says that Jesus has come to destroy the works of the devil. If his baptism marks the beginning of his public ministry, the Lord’s time in the desert shows us that he has embarked on a campaign against the powers of evil.

Now, you might say, well, what kind of fight is that anyway, Jesus who is God versus some fallen angel? There’s no challenge there.  The devil is not God's equal. “By the blast of God his enemies perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed,” and all that.  Of course Jesus is going to be come out victorious.  But Jesus doesn’t confront Satan with a blast of divine lightning, but with his frail human nature.  

St. Lawrence of Brindisi, a good Italian Franciscan saint from the 16th century comments: “Christ came into the world to do battle against Satan…He could have accomplished this by using the weapons of his divinity …but in order that his victory might be the more glorious, he willed to fight Satan in our weak flesh.  It is as if an unarmed man, right hand bound, were to fight with his left hand alone against a powerful army; if he emerged victorious, his victory would be regarded as all the more glorious.  So Christ conquered Satan with the right hand of his divinity bound and using against him only the left hand of his weak humanity.”

Weak humanity when coupled with divine life results in victory. And that’s the great lesson for us all. So often, we excuse sin as simply a result of human nature. Two friends become embroiled in gossip, “it’s only human nature”. Drinking too much and falling into drunkenness, “it’s only human nature”. Giving in to lust or greed or gluttony, “it’s only human nature”. But no, our relationship with Christ changes us. Christians are not slaves to fallen human nature. In the desert, Jesus shows that weak, frail human nature can emerge victorious even in a battle with Satan himself, if we rely on faith and the grace of God. 

Christian tradition has always recognized the spiritual battle as a dimension of the Christian life.   Just as Jesus was tempted and tested, so are his disciples.  Just as Christ was opposed by the hostile powers of evil, so are his disciples.  But, just as Christ was victorious over the powers of sin and death, so, shall his disciples be, when we are in union with Christ. 

One of the reasons the devil hates the season of Lent, is because it is during this season that the Church takes up powerful weapons against evil: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—the very same weapons as Jesus wielded in his spiritual battle.

The prayers on Ash Wednesday alluded to this battle: the opening prayer said, “grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint”. 

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are powerful spiritual weapons, and the devil hates them. 

Why does the devil hate prayer? Prayer cultivates a personal relationship with God, making us more receptive to God’s  grace. The devil—whose aim is to separate us from God—detests seeing us  grow closer to God, for that intimacy dispels the isolation and despair that evil tries to sow in our hearts.

In prayer, we encounter the truth of who God is and who we are before Him—beloved children. This awareness counters the enemy’s tactic of distracting us from our Christian identity and mission. When we pray—especially in times of temptation or hardship—we open ourselves to receive divine help. Jesus calls His disciples to “watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). Prayer thus becomes a shield, thwarting the enemy’s attacks by keeping us spiritually alert.

The devil hates prayer, and The devil hates fasting. Fasting confronts one of the devil’s primary strategies: to keep us enslaved to appetite, comfort, and immediate gratification. By voluntarily limiting ourselves—be it from food, certain forms of entertainment, or other attachments—we exercise self-denial and grow in freedom. This freedom terrifies the devil because an “unencumbered” soul can focus more wholeheartedly on God and charity.

Fasting disciplines the body and strengthens the will. A disciplined Christian is less easily manipulated by sudden urges or passions, making temptations lose their grip.

By temporarily giving up what sustains us physically, we learn a deeper trust in God as our ultimate sustainer. The devil wants us to think we must rely on ourselves alone. Fasting teaches us that “man does not live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). We rediscover that God’s grace is our true strength, loosening the enemy’s hold on our fears.

And certainly, the devil hates almsgiving. Almsgiving—the practice of giving time, resources, or material help to those in need—is directly opposed to the selfishness, greed, and indifference the devil wishes to sow in our lives. Charity expands our hearts in compassion and generosity.

When we give alms, we participate in God’s love for the poor and vulnerable. Concrete works of mercy bring the presence of God into the lives of others. The devil hates actions that strengthen solidarity and unity among people, because that unity reflects God’s own communion of love (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

And of course, the devil hates almsgiving because it is a reflection, and manifestation of Christ’s total gift of himself on the cross which destroyed the devil’s stronghold on humanity.

Ultimately, the devil hates prayer, fasting, and almsgiving because they draw us into deeper communion with God, free us from the tyranny of disordered desires, and cultivate a spirit of generous love toward others. 

So again, take these Lenten practices seriously. Every day of Lent is an opportunity to take up the weapons of the Lord so that the kingdom of evil may be defeated ever more definitively in our own lives and in the world for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

 

34th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - On the threshhold of Advent

As we gather on the second-to-last day of the liturgical year and on the threshold of Advent, our readings lead us to consider some profound truths about the culmination of history and the promise of new beginnings. Revelation’s dramatic vision of the binding of Satan, the last judgment, and the establishment of the new heaven and earth, paired with Jesus’ parable of the fig tree in the Gospel, invites us to reflect on God’s ultimate plan for the world and our role within it.

First, the binding of Satan affirms that evil has a definitive end. The dragon, the ancient serpent, is cast into the abyss, unable to deceive the nations. This is not just a promise for the future but a reminder that Christ has already defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection. Though evil still operates in the world, its power is limited and its days are numbered.

Second, the last judgment is a moment of accountability. The dead are judged according to their deeds, as written in the scrolls of the apocalypse. Here is a reminder that, in the end, our choices, our actions, our witness to Christ all bear eternal weight. 

Finally, we read of the new heaven and new earth, the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, descends adorned like a bride. This is the promise of renewal, where all things are made new and where God dwells fully with His people. It is a vision of hope, reminding us that the end is not destruction but transformation.

As we stand on the threshold of Advent, these readings prepare our hearts for the season of preparation and anticipation. Just as we prepare for the celebration the birth of the Savior, we also prepare for the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel parable of the fig tree Jesus reminds us to stay awake, to discern His presence in our lives and in the world, and to prepare for His coming.

Like the fig tree, the signs of God’s Kingdom are all around us. In moments of grace, in the beauty of creation, and even in the trials we face, God is at work. So, take time during Advent to pause, reflect, and recognize His presence.

But also, use this Advent to align your life more closely with God’s will. Seek reconciliation, perform acts of charity, and deepen your prayer life.

Let Advent be a season where you nurture hope in your heart, trusting in God’s promise to make all things new.

May we live as witnesses to the Kingdom of God, ready for Christ’s coming, and confident in the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. Amen.

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Trusting in God’s promise of renewal and justice, let us bring our prayers to the Lord, who reigns over all creation and prepares us for the coming of His Kingdom.

For the Church, that she may guide the faithful to live with vigilance and hope, proclaiming the coming of God’s Kingdom with courage and love

For world leaders, that they may work for justice, peace, and the dignity of all people.

For our community, that we may discern the signs of God’s presence in our lives and live each day in preparation for Christ’s coming.

For those who suffer from illness or injustice, that they may stand firm in faith and find strength in God’s promise of ultimate victory over evil.

For those who have died, that their names may be found written in the book of life and that they may share in the joy of the new heaven and new earth.

Almighty and merciful God, , hear our prayers as we await the coming of your Son, and guide us to live as faithful witnesses to your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

4th Week of Lent 2024 - Friday - Obnoxious to the Satanic

 During the final weeks of Lent, the weekday scripture readings detail the growing hostility towards Jesus culminating in his crucifixion.  Why do Jesus’ enemies hate him so?  

Our first reading from the book of Wisdom gives us a glimpse into the psychology of Jesus’ opponents. In these verses, we encounter the musings of the wicked about the just man. The wicked call the just man obnoxious, he challenges their attitudes and behaviors and ideals, his righteousness is a rebuke to their wicked ways, his relationship with God exposes their alienation from God. 

In the just man, the wicked face a mirror reflecting their own iniquities. The just man walks a path of righteousness and divine trust contrasting sharply with their world of deception and malice. And so what do the wicked do when faced with this reminder of their iniquity? They plot against him: “With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."

The plotting of the wicked mirrors the behavior of Satan in the Book of Job. Recall how Satan challenges Job’s integrity by arguing that Job is faithful only because God has blessed him with prosperity. He suggests that if Job were to face suffering, his true nature would be revealed, and he would surely curse God. Similarly, in the Book of Wisdom, the wicked test the just man, challenging his righteousness and hoping to unveil hypocrisy or weakness. They both act out of a belief that righteousness is not genuine but merely a facade maintained for personal gain or under favorable circumstances.

In the hostility towards the just man there is a clear parallel to the way Jesus was treated by His opponents leading up to the crucifixion, who are filled with the Satanic spirit. 

The wicked of his day plotted against Jesus, twisted His words, and sought to eliminate Him. For the Lord Jesus, in His perfection, was a living rebuke to their hypocrisy and sinfulness. His light exposed their darkness. His Divine love and truth, exposed their selfishness and pride, which mirrors the Selfishness and pride of the Satan himself. 

The Satanic spirit is constantly at work to turn hearts from justice and truth, to twist human minds so that they interpret the goodness and truth and beauty of Christ to be obnoxious. And Satan has won over many souls.

So again, our Lenten penances, are not just for ourselves. They are done in the spirit of Christ who came to destroy the works of Satan, and the hold Satan has on souls, that they we may live in the goodness, truth, and beauty of the living God. Let us be lavish in our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for ourselves and the deliverance of those bound by the lies of the Evil One, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

For those without faith, those with hearts hardened toward God, and for those searching for Him.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

September 20 2023 - St. Andrew Kim & Korean Martyrs - Satan's Opposition to Church Growth vs. Courageous Christian Witness

 

Today we celebrate the memorial of the Korean martyrs. The first Catholic missionary arrived in Korea at a time of great strife—during the Japanese invasion of Korea under Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1593. But missionary efforts were pretty minimal for about 200 years. And it wasn’t until the late 1700s that a native Korean named Yi Seung-hun studied Chinese translations of Catholic texts and sought out a Jesuit missionary in Beijing for baptism. He returned to Korea with a handful of fellow Catholics and really began to spread the faith. 

In 1801, 300 Catholics were martyred by the government of the Joseon Dynasty chiefly for the our faith’s opposition to ancestral "worship" which the State prescribed as a cornerstone of Korean culture. So our faith, really has it’s origins in Korea, in standing up to the idolatrous state religion. Yi Seung-hun was among those first martyrs.

St. Andrew Kim was from a Korean family who suffered under those persecutions. He became a deacon in 1844, and a year later was ordained as Korea’s first Catholic priest. He returned to Korea and traveled around Catholic communities teaching, mostly at night. He tried to get French missionaries into the country, but was arrested on June 5, 1846, and beheaded on September 16 at the age of 25.

The first Catholic priest of a people, martyred. 

Satan’s opposition to the Catholic Church’s taking root in Korea has been mighty. But the witness, and the courage of the Korean Catholics sustained by the grace of God has been mightier. The number of Catholics in the past 20 years in South Korea has increased by 48.6 percent, and today 11.1% of South Koreans are Catholic. The North Korean Government opposes the growth of Christianity with terrible ferocity. But compare the growth of the Church in South Korea to what is going on here in the United States. Sunday Mass attendance has declined that much in the last 20 years. Nuptial masses has decreased by over 40 percent in 20 years. . 

Today we celebrate not just two, but the hundreds of Korean martyrs who died witnessing to the truth of Jesus Christ. No doubt, they have something to teach us in standing up against Satan in this land, may we allow ourselves to be inspired by their courageous witness and imitate them in their fervor for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 2023 - Transformed by the renewal of your mind

 

I’ve shared before how, when I was a teenager, I went through a phase where I was not very interested in our beloved Catholic faith. I had stopped going to church, and became immersed in some real secular ways of thinking. I started to buy into the idea that religion had nothing to offer, that science and politics were the answers to humanity’s problems. I began to read Marx and Freud and was watching a lot of entertainment in which religion, particularly Catholicism was derided and mocked. 

“Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”. Our age, as you might know, is very antithetical toward religion. Mockery of religion, the bible, the church, the priesthood pervades so much of the media. And it’s relentless. The mockery and contempt for religion is found in so many classrooms, workplaces, political rhetoric, media, pop songs and movies, internet forums. And hearing this preacher, break open this scripture passage from St. Paul late one night, helped me to realize that I had bought right into it: this idea which is still very prevalent that religion was not part of the solution, but part of the problem.

But, the idea that the world can fix itself without God is foolish. Just look at what happens when God is driven out of society, politics, science, not to mention the classroom: you get concentration camps, weapons of mass destruction, torture, human trafficking, mental illness, broken families, crime, and self-destruction through drugs and alcohol.  

When we conform ourselves to the world—we are swallowed by the world and our light dims, our minds are dulled, and our wills are weakened to the point where we just go along with the fallen corrupt human system because it’s easier. 

Rather, the way of Christ is the way of transformation and healing. Which is why in the Gospel when Peter tells Jesus to abandon the cross, Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan, You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Funny how, thinking as “human beings do” always leads away from the cross. 

Why does Jesus call Peter Satan? Because Satan does not want mankind saved. Satan does not want mankind transformed. Satan wants us enslaved while thinking that we are free. Satan is the great enemy: he wants you chained to your sins, trapped in cycles of sin and depravity. He wants you to hate, and resent, and manipulate, and abuse. He wants to see all that is holy in you, all that is a reflection of the goodness of God trampled upon. You wants you using your bodies in degrading ways, he wants your minds atrophied, and your wills broken to give-in to every one of his temptations. Satan loves when we abandon religion for science for politics, when we worship anything but God. 

Satan wants us to settle for fallenness, but God wishes to raise us up, which is why St. Paul says renew your mind that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. 

What does it mean to renew your mind? The Christian is to always be about the business of seeking to know, understand, and interpret the world through the lens of the Word of God. The Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the writings of the saints, must be the interpretive lens, the filter, the hermeneutic, to understand all things, and to shape and guide and inform all of our decisions. And if we arrive at some conclusion contrary to the Gospel—well we have not thought and prayed and studied long enough.

Satan is hard at work, creating division—turning man against brother—Christian against Christian—undermining right religion, frustrating domestic tranquility, spreading terrible confusion—duping even Christians to embrace attitudes and behavior which is repugnant to the word of God. But, as I said a few weeks ago, God chose us to live now, in the year 2023, in the midst of this nearly-all pervasive Satanic spirit—to show the world another way, the way—To show and to witness, to follow and to suffer for the one who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.”

The Catholic of 2023 must be a bullwork of right faith, who pursues the true, the good, and the beautiful in opposition to the error, corruption, and ugliness of the world. The Catholic of 2023 must take up the cross and follow Christ—no matter the hostility or pressure from the Satanic spirit. You are chosen for this. You and I were made for this.

We are called to be the great transformers of the world, but we must first let God and his will transform us. Read the Bible. Study the Catechism. In fact, you should study your faith to the highest capacity of your intellect. In other words, if you can grasp high school theology, you should study high school theology. If you can grasp college or graduate level or doctorate level theology, then you should. Our minds have tremendous capacity for the Truth. But if all you do is fill your mind with the garbage on tv and the internet, your life, and mind, and wills, and bodies will suffer for it.

We have a wonderful new Bible Study starting up in a few weeks on Monday nights. But every day, you need to seek the renewal of your mind. Every day learn something new about your faith. I’ve been a priest for 15 years. I have two masters degrees in Theology, a bachelors in philosophy, and I promise you cannot exhaust what there is to learn about God and about our faith. Likely, the thing that is keeping us from the daily renewal God wants for us is laziness and fear of the cross. 

So, in the name of Jesus Christ, rebuke Satan, just like Jesus did in the Gospel today, rebuke any attitude, any fear, any habit, that is keeping you from the renewal and the transformation God wants for you, for therein lies joy, freedom, peace, and the fullness of life for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

34th Week in Ordinary Time 2022 - Wednesday - The war between Lamb and Beast

Throughout the visions contained in the book of Revelation, it becomes clear that history involves a battle: a war of good versus evil. In chapter 12 of Revelation, we hear of the dragon—"the dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.” And the dragon wages war against the women and her offspring. Think of Mary and her children, the Church. 

In chapter 13, Revelation introduces two beasts, demonic lieutenants of Satan. And the beasts worship the dragon because it gives them power. And the beasts blaspheme against God. And they too, wage war against the holy ones of God. 

But then in Chapter 14, we meet not a hellish dragon, or a demonic beast, but the innocent Lamb and the holy ones who follow Him wherever he goes. 

Today’s passage describes a vision of the Lamb who has waged war and is victorious over the beast and its followers. And surrounding the Lamb are, the Lambs followers, who share in his victory. These are the martyrs and the holy people who remained faithful to the Lamb unto death throughout the great battle—the great struggle—the great war that is this earthly life. 

And the followers of the Lamb sing a victory song to celebrate God’s triumph over his adversaries that is about to unfold as God brings history to an end. 

The battle is real. Our sinful condition means that our earthly life involves choosing sides—will we give in to sin, to the influence of the dragon whose evil permeates the whole world—will we join the beasts of hell in their vicious attacks on goodness, truth, and beauty? Or will we join the Lamb who delivers us from sin, who clothes his followers in righteousness?

The Catechism speaks of this battle saying the dramatic situation of “the whole world [which] is in the power of the evil one” makes man’s life a battle: The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity.”

The battle is real, my friends. And the battle to do right—the battle for holiness—the battle to win souls—costs us something, as it cost the Lamb—we will be hated by all—handed over by parents and friends, as the Lord tells us in the Gospel today. But sacrifice for God—for the Lamb—is rewarded with an eternal share in his victory. 

Revelation says, “The devil is in a great fury, for he knows his time on earth is short”. And evil in the world is not a sign that evil wins, but that it is making it’s last, furious grasp for souls. May we work and pray assiduously for the deliverance of those who remain in Satan’s grasp through error and sin, pleading for their deliverance through the blood of the Lamb—Christ the Lord—for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

Lord, sanctify your bishops and priests, and grant them courage to preach the Gospel in its fullness.

Make the lives of parents examples of faith to inspire their children to seek first your heavenly kingdom. 

Bring all those who have fallen away back to the sacraments, help them to repent of their sins and desire the life that can only come from you.

That the Wisdom of Christ may preside over our thanksgiving gatherings tomorrow, for safety for all travelers, and protection from food-born illnesses. 

Bring comfort to the sick and suffering, charity and care to the destitute and down-trodden, be present through your church to the miserable. 

Welcome into your kingdom all the faithful departed, those whose names are written in our parish necrology, all clergy and religious, and X for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Holy Week 2022 - Spy Wednesday - The sin of Judas Iscariot

 Wednesday of Holy week is known as Spy Wednesday because on this day Judas Iscariot made the shameful bargain with the high priests to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  

In Dante’s Divine Comedy, the depths of the inferno are reserved for traitors, those guilty of the sin of betrayal. For Dante, the sin of betrayal is so much worse than sins of the flesh—like gluttony or lust. Opposed to the hot-blooded impulsive sins, Dante saw betrayal as cold, requiring forethought, and malice. Satan coldly sought to betray God, as did Judas. Which is why both Satan and Judas are together in hell’s lowest, coldest depths. 

I’ve read that In some villages in Poland, on this day, an effigy of Judas is throne from the church steeple, dragged through the streets and stoned, and then drowned in a pond.

Of Judas, the Lord himself said, “It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Why? Because Judas knew the truth about Jesus, but betrayed him anyway, and then went on to take his own life. The Church has never declared that Judas is in hell. But based on the Lord’s own words and the fact that Judas died apparently without repentance for his terrible betrayal and by his own hands, it is likely.

But it didn’t have to be so. Jesus died for Judas too. Salvific grace was available to him too, if he would have repented. Like all those in hell, Judas’ eternal sufferings would consist of  the pain of being excluded from God’s presence for all eternity, the knowledge that its duration will continue forever without possibility of rest, the knowledge that it could have been otherwise, and the understanding that it is entirely his own fault.”

We consider Judas’ story today, during holy week, to understand the events leading up to the Lord’s Passion, but also, that we might not make the same mistake as Judas. 

We mustn’t lead greed fester in us, allowing our sins to remain hidden, like Judas who stole from the community purse. We shouldn’t allow anger toward God fester in us. We mustn’t allow unrepentance to fester in us, for any sin, no matter how slight. 

Tomorrow begins the Great Paschal Triduum. In our great liturgical celebrations, we will consider all the Lord did, and suffered, and endured for us. He bore the weight of our sinful betrayals, our lusts, our selfishness, our greed, our pride, wishing no sinner to die, but to return to Him and live. As we contemplate his sufferings and His love for us, may our conviction for the Gospel increase, that we will look for opportunities to know him, love him, and serve him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For increased faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That the grace of these holy days may touch the most hardened of hearts, and move unrepented sinners and fallen-away Catholics to return to the mercy of God.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021 - Take up your cross

 The author of today’s Gospel passage, St. Mark, was not a member of the Twelve Apostles. There’s a little dispute over when he encountered the Gospel One tradition states that he was among the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus during his Galilean ministry, another tradition, held by the third century church historian and bishop St. Eusebius, states the Mark became Christian through the post-resurrection preaching of St. Peter. Peter, after all called him “my son Mark” in his first epistle. So, likely, St. Mark got his information about Jesus from Peter; some ancient writers even called Mark’s Gospel “Peter’s Gospel” for that reason.  

So even if St. Mark was not an eye-witness to Jesus, his Gospel, which we’ll be reading through for the duration of the church year, is based on an eye-witness account, that of the prince of the apostles, St. Peter. 

Like St. Peter, St. Mark eventually traveled to Rome, and wrote his Gospel there around the year 60 A.D.  St. Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four Gospels: it is clear, precise, orderly, and direct—certainly pleasing to the Roman ear. 

The ancient Romans, to whom Mark wrote, were in many ways like modern Americans.  They were a practical, pragmatic people who emphasized deeds more than words, action more than theory.  The Romans got things done.  They conquered the known world.  And since his audience, the Romans, admired people who got things done, St. Mark emphasized these aspects of Jesus’s life. Throughout Mark’s Gospel, the Lord is confronting and expelling demons, curing contagious diseases, undergoing the terrible sufferings of his Passion, only to rise again victorious over sin and death. 

In the Gospel today, Jesus affirms, explicitly and uncompromisingly—very clearly, so even Romans could understand—that he and all of his followers must "take up the cross"—talk about action. For following Jesus is about more than calling oneself a Christian, to quote same James, “faith without works is dead.” And, the Lord goes so far to say that those who refuse to take up the cross “will lose their lives”—they will lose the promise of eternal life in heaven. Again, you can’t call yourself a Christian without the works that back-up that claim. 

The Lord gives this stark teaching in response to Peter really sticking his foot in his mouth. The Passage begins with Peter seemingly understanding that Jesus is the Messiah—the promised one—the one anointed by God to save us from our sins and restore unity to the fallen human race and restore humanity to right relationship with God. 

But then the conversation takes a turn: when Jesus tells the group that the Christ must suffer greatly, be mocked, and killed, Peter, the disciple, attempts to correct Jesus, the teacher. Big mistake. But who could blame him. Peter doesn’t want Jesus to go to the cross, because Peter doesn’t want to go to the cross. In fact, throughout the Gospel, Peter is often running away from the cross. In the Passion story, Peter denied Jesus three times, so he wouldn’t be arrested and crucified with the Lord.  On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus is talking to Moses and Elijah about going to Jerusalem where he would suffer and die like the prophets before Him, Peter says, no, Lord, let’s just stay here. Peter doesn’t want the Lord to be subject to suffering, because Peter doesn’t want to have to suffer. And again,…who can blame him. Most of us spend a lot of time and energy avoiding or at least minimizing suffering.

“Get behind me Satan”, the Lord says to Peter. You can imagine Mark’s surprise when Peter recalled the events in today’s Gospel: “He called you what?” Why does the Lord offer this sharpest of rebuke? This passage gets to the heart of who Jesus is and what he’s all about. The Lord Jesus wasn’t just a teacher, he wasn’t a community organizer, he wasn’t political leader, he didn’t come to simply encourage humanity to work for social justice. Of course, it’s good to feed the hungry, it’s good to stand up for someone being bullied, it’s good to speak up for the vulnerable. But the Son of God took flesh in order to accomplish something we couldn’t do on our own, the greatest good imaginable: he embraced unimaginable suffering, the greatest suffering, to obtain, to purchase our salvation. 

So when Peter said, you mustn’t allow yourself to suffer, it was akin to Satan opposing the holy will of God to save us from hell. Of course Satan doesn’t want Jesus to suffer and die. The Lord’s Passion freed us from hell’s grasp. And so the Lord rebukes Peter, he rebukes Satan for opposing the salvific plan of God. 

And then the Lord teaches his disciples, that we must, like him, bear our crosses. Fulfilling the will of God is not easy. There is a weight to it, a cost to it. And we know this: it’s good to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. But, we often draw a line, don’t we? We willingly engage in these good works…to a point: and that point usually is, when it costs me something, when I will have to sacrifice something I enjoy or can utilize—cash, leisure time, my favorite television show, my reputation among less religiously fervent peers or family members. When I have to sacrifice these things to build up the Church and to do good works, well, most of us like to leave the hard work to someone else. 

This is a difficult Gospel. Perhaps the most difficult. It was certainly difficult for Peter, so we are, at least, in good company. Peter continues to run away from suffering throughout the Gospel—we run away often. We allow Satan to whisper in our ears, “the cross is too heavy, leave it to someone else, God can’t possibly be asking you to carry this cross, you can carry the next one”. 

But, the Christian life is about learning to carry crosses for the sake of the Kingdom. And just as our Lord brought ineffable goodness from his cross, so to with us. Lives our touched, souls are saved, miracles are wrought, saints are made through the cross. 

There’s the story, which you have likely heard, when Peter finally gets it. After the Lord’s Ascension, of course, Peter labors with the rest of the Apostles to spread the Gospel, in Jerusalem, then to Judea, then throughout the empire. And around the year 64, Peter having been bishop in Antioch for some time, comes to preach and minister to the Christians in the Imperial City of Rome. And for a while Peter knowing that he was likely to be arrested and killed for his ministry, showed great courage preaching the Gospel and ministering to the small community of Christians there. 

When he began to agitate the local Roman authorities, the threat of the cross again loomed too close for comfort. So Peter began to flee Rome. But as he began to flee through the city gate, something happened. He had a vision. Before him he saw the Lord Jesus walking through the gate, into Rome carrying the cross.  Peter, falling to his knees asked him, “Domine, quo vadis?  Lord, where are you going?”  And the Lord replied, “I have come to Rome to be crucified, since you will not.”  Peter recognized that he had been fleeing the cross, yet again., and the Lord’s words struck Peter and gave him the resolve to do what he must do. 

Peter returned to his ministry, preaching the Truth of the Gospel, and for this he was arrested, and like our Lord, Peter was crucified; only he asked that he be crucified upside-down because he felt he was unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord. His sacrifice no doubt bolstered the faith of the Roman Christians who would undergo terrible persecution, and has bolstered the faith of the Church for 2000 years because he finally took up his cross.

What will it mean to take up your cross this week? To pray, to fast, to visit the lonely widow next door? Will it be to bear wrongs patiently, without complaint, without seeking to get the last word in when arguing with a spouse, or refrain from talking back to your parents? Will it mean finally forgiving someone who hurt you, or going out of your way to find a intentional act of charity each day, to invite a coworker to pray? Daily upon waking, ask God for the strength and courage to carry that cross, the willingness to pay what is costly for the spread of the kingdom for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

22nd Sunday in OT 2020 - "Do not conform yourself to this age"

Well, St. Peter has gone from hero to zero pretty quickly, hasn’t he? Last week, the Lord was extolling Peter’s faith: “You are Peter, the rock, and upon this rock I build my Church.” For Peter’s faith, he is chosen as prince of apostles. He and his successors would be given the powers to loose an bind, to teach, govern, and sanctify Christ’s holy Church. The faith and leadership of the head of the Church would impact profoundly the faith of the members.

But this week, just a scant seven verses later in Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord refers to Peter as Satan: “Get thee behind me Satan. For thou art an obstacle to me.” One can hardly imagine a more stern and bone-chilling rebuke…not a very good first day on the job for the first Pope. Peter you have become a stumbling block, an obstacle to the will of God, to the mission of God’s son. You are obstructing God as Satan does. It doesn’t get much worse than that.

Why does the Lord rebuke Peter so sharply? When the Lord explains how he must go to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Peter reacts not with trust or faith, not with openness to God’s will, but out of something that is pitiful and cowardly and fallen about the human condition, “For thinking has human beings do,” the Lord says. There’s something in us, in all of us, that left to its own devices, if pressed and tried, obstructs the will of God himself. 

It’s in us. It’s in all of us. A part of us that gives-in to pressure all too easily, a part of us that caves when obedience to God requires a little bit of effort. We see this all the way back in the garden of Eden. At the foot of the tree—Eve begins to cave when faced with temptation. She struggles, recalling the warning of God—but she gives into that voice uttering empty promises that her own will, her own strength, her own plan, could bring her happiness. And she caved.

So, too with Adam. But with Adam, we see even less of a struggle. When presented with the forbidden fruit from the hands of his wife, we don’t even see an argument. We don’t see Adam calling to mind the command of God and the consequences for sin: “Do not eat of the tree,” God says, “or else you will die”. Adam caves without resistance. How pitiful! And yet, that weakness is in every single one of us.

Paul had this human weakness in mind in many of his letters, particularly in today’s reading. When St. Paul was preaching to the Romans—he knew he was bringing to the Gospel to a…strong-headed people—people who valued strength, honor, patriotism, and hard-work. But, Paul also recognized a great weakness in this people. The Romans loved conformity. They believed that the way to spread and work for the spread of the Roman Empire and the glory of Rome—was through conformity to the Roman gods and the Roman values.

Paul knew, that if the Romans were to accept the Christian Gospel—they would be faced with tremendous pressure from their fellow Romans. And, Paul knew about worldly pressure. After all, he was once a persecutor of his fellow Jews who accepted Christ. Paul knew that Romans would experience, likewise, tremendous hostility for accepting Christ.  And so Paul dares to write, as we hear in his epistle today, “Do not conform yourselves to this age”. 

While some of those Roman virtues align just fine with the Gospel, the attitudes of the prevailing culture frequently oppose the values of God. That’s true for ancient Rome, and it’s true for 21st century America. Yes, there are wonderful American values that align with the Gospel: the defense of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Respect for your fellow man. Free speech. Freedom to obtain and defend private property. A disdain for corruption on all levels. Desire for justice and care for the oppressed. An attempt to live peacefully amidst many competing and contrasting values. Wonderful.

So, when Paul warns the Romans--urges the Romans—do not conform yourselves to this age—he’s not saying that they cannot have any role in Roman society, or that they have to abandon what is good in their culture. No. But, he is saying that in his age and every age there are cultural values and practices contrary to the way of Jesus Christ. You will not find a nation, state, county, or town in perfect conformity with Christ’s teachings. And so Christians, need to be extremely careful that they do not adopt the anti-Christian ideals surrounding them like the winds of the sea of Galilee. 

What guidance does Paul offer for Christian to resist these pressures? “Renew your minds” he says.  “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

The Christian must seek to know, understand, and interpret the world and make moral choices with a mind renewed by the teachings and grace of Jesus Christ. The Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the writings of the saints, must be the interpretive lens, the filter, the hermeneutic, to understand all things, and to shape and guide and inform all of our decisions. This is what Paul means by “putting on the mind of Christ”—to think, to chose, to act, as Christ in the world. 

And if we arrive at some conclusion contrary to the Gospel—well we have not thought and prayed long enough.

When we allow ourselves to be guided and informed by the word of God—we become like Peter walking on water, Peter exalted by the Lord—made a prince of the Church—a stable rock for his friends, his brethren, his family. A rock of faith against the instabilities and chaos of the world. But when we turn from the truth, and allow fear, pressure, worldly error to shape our actions—we become stumbling blocks for the building-up of the Church, and the saving mission of Christ. 

The Satanic spirit which tempted Eve and overwhelmed Adam, which led Peter to think and speak with human error, which pervaded ancient Egypt, Babylon, Greece, and Rome seeks to possess us, to possess our nation, parish, and families. And it’s relentless. It is found in classrooms, workplaces, political parties, television stations, pop songs and movies, internet forums, and it has even infiltrated the Church in many places, as it has in the past. So the Christian must be on guard. Always. “Be Sober and Alert,” St. Peter says in his New Testament letter. “For the Devil is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for souls to devour. So resist him by being solid in your faith.” 

We can see Satan at work, creating division—turning man against brother—Christian against Christian—undermining right religion, frustrating domestic tranquility, spreading terrible confusion—duping even Christians to embrace attitudes and behavior which is repugnant to the word of God. 

But, as I said two weeks ago, God chose us to live in the year 2020, with all the confusion, in the midst of this nearly-all pervasive Satanic spirit—to show the world another way, the way. To show and to witness, to follow and to suffer for the one who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.”

The Catholic of 2020 must be a bullwork of orthodoxy—of right faith—and a fountain of right practice, who pursues the true, the good, and the beautiful in opposition to the error, corruption, and ugliness of the world. The Catholic of 2020 must take up the cross and follows Christ—no matter the hostility or pressure from the Satanic spirit. You are chosen for this. You and I were made for this. May we be faithful to this great responsibility for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

4th Week of Lent 2019 - Tuesday - The drama begins

Yesterday, we began reading from the series of seven miracles in John’s Gospel, and today we read the third miracle, the healing of the man at the waters of Bethesda, pools of water that were open to the public, near the northern sheep gate of Jerusalem. The waters were thought to have healing properties, but healing eluded this crippled man for thirty-eight years. In the end, it was not the water at all that brought him healing, rather, his faith in Jesus Christ, the healing word of Jesus.

The power of faith, obedience to the word of Jesus, links yesterday’s gospel miracle, and today’s. Today’s story begins the drama which will continue to unfold and eventually lead to the climax of Good Friday.

The Jewish leaders, witnessing Jesus’ miracle, instead of responding to the miracle with faith, harden their hearts, and St. John tells us they begin to “persecute” Jesus. “Persecute” in the sense that they begin to obstruct his holy work and bring suffering to him,

One scripture commentary said that John’s use of the word “persecute” also has the resonance of “legal prosecution” for the Jewish leaders here begin to build a legal case against him, and bring judgment against him, accusing him of crime that will enable them to silence Him.
This reminds me of the beginning of the book of Job, were Satan, whose name means the “Accuser” seeks to build a legal case against Job. The Satanic spirit works to silence Jesus, to obstruct his work of salvation.

This reminds us of that opening prayer of Ash Wednesday, which spoke of Lent as a spiritual campaign, a spiritual battle being waged in us. While we seek to conform ourselves to Jesus through our Lenten penances, while the catechumens seek to ready themselves for the saving waters of baptism, Satan seeks to obstruct the work of God in us, to tempt us away from penance, to close our ears to the truths the Word wishes to speak to us, to hinder us in responding to God in faith.

While we increase our penances, temptation may also increase, forces which obstruct the work of God might conspire against us. So we keep our eyes and our hearts fixed on Jesus throughout Lent, knowing that through his suffering and death, he brings about victory over the forces of evil, and plants his spirit within us to endure suffering and hardship for the sake of the kingdom, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.
That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief, and that Christians who are persecuted for the Gospel might persevere in faith.
For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.
That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.
That those in need may find assist in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

2nd Week of Lent 2019 - Wednesday - Satanic Resistance to the Cross

There are several instances in the Gospels of the Apostles confusion over Jesus’ teaching, or their slowness to grasp his identity and his mission. And sometimes their understanding of Jesus is downright flawed. Peter is usually the spokesman for the Apostles’ confusions, errors, and fears.

The first time Jesus predicts his Passion, in the Gospel of Matthew, Peter, makes an assertion that is bold, even for him. He brazenly rebukes Jesus, the unformed student pridefully rebukes the teacher. And Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan.” And to be honest, Peter’s assertion was Satanic. Jesus came to save us from our sins through the Cross, and Peter was tempting the Lord to turn away from the cross—to forsake his mission of human redemption.

Today’s Gospel contains Jesus’ third prediction of his Passion. He announces that he will be soon handing himself over to be mocked, scourged, and crucified. This time, it is not
Peter who criticizes the Lord. This time it is James, John, and their mother who approach Jesus.

Matthew includes a detail that shows they are off to a bad start right from the beginning: “the do him homage, wishing to asking him for something.” Do you worship God only so that he can grant you requests? Do you treat God like Santa Claus? What should have been a moment of conversion and deeper identification with Jesus and his ultimate mission, James, John, and Mom approach Jesus, with…false worship?

And then, their request reveals something similar to that Satanic resistance displayed by Peter. Their request is not, help us Jesus to bear the cross with you, but is as removed from the cross as anything possibly could. They request an earthly throne. In the desert, it is Satan who is the one who offers earthly thrones, promises of earthly glory, in exchange for false worship.

Jesus’ disciples are not to be known for their pursuit of earthly thrones and earthly glory. “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” Rather than pursuing wealth, power, fame, and pleasure, Jesus’ disciples are to be known for their pursuit of service, their embrace of suffering for the good of others.

Sometimes like Peter, James and John, we put up an almost Satanic resistance to the cross, embracing pride right when we should be embracing humility, embracing greed and lust for power right when we should be embracing generosity and self-abandon. Right when we should be embracing prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we turn to earthly distractions, gluttony, and spending money on ourselves.
May our Lenten observances help to deliver us from all that keeps us from embracing the cross, and from Christian service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the Christians will experience the graces of profound renewal during this season of Lent.  We pray to the Lord.
That God will rescue all those who live at a distance from him because of self-absorption or sin, that this evening’s diocesan wide celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will bring about a return of many hearts to communion with God.
That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  We pray to the Lord.
That this Lent we will be faithful to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord sanctifies us.  We pray to the Lord.
For generous giving for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, victims of natural disaster, terrorism, war, and violence, the grieving and those most in need.  We pray to the Lord.
For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for [intention below], for whom this Mass is offered.  We pray to the Lord.
Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

Holy Week 2018 - Tuesday - The Greed of Judas and the Love of Jesus

When Jesus announced that one of his disciples would betray Him, the 12 were befuddled. How could one of their own be responsible for betraying the master? Each of the apostles had their flaws, of course. Some were a bit hotheaded or slow to understand Jesus’ mission and identity. But, who would willingly and knowingly place their own will in competition with Christ’s? No one would be that arrogant, would they?

The Apostle Judas was likely a very capable young man. He was given a position of some importance, to carry the money purse. He was trusted by his fellow apostles. He had been sent out, by Jesus, just like the others: to heal the sick and cast out demons and preach repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. He was trusted, loved, he was called “friend” and “brother.”

How did Judas go from trusted apostle to committing the worst of betrayals?

Yesterday, we heard how Judas objected to the extravagant display of affection for Jesus, when Mary anointed the Lord’s feet with expensive oil and dried them with her hair. The oil, Judas explained, could have been sold for much and the money given to the poor. St. John tells us, his objection was not because Judas actually cared for the poor, but because he was a thief—he stole, he was greedy.
Judas’ selfishness and greed became the opening for Satan to enter Judas, to use Judas as his instrument. Satan, who himself betrayed God, who sought to obstruct the plans of God, attempted to use Judas for the same end.

If it can happen to an apostle, it can happen to us. The devil will always try to exploit our selfishness. He uses human selfishness to cause divisions in marriage, friendships, faith communities anywhere there is good, he will try to pervert--through even the small acts of selfishness you try to justify to ourselves.

Judas’ greed is contrasted in the Gospel with the lavish love that should flow from faith, as seen yesterday in Mary of Bethany’s generosity in anointing Jesus, which is seen ultimately, in Jesus’ self-donation on the Cross, his embrace of suffering for us poor sinners.

Judas “cared not for the poor,” only for himself.

In these final days of Holy Week, may we acknowledge our selfishness, our failure to emulate Jesus’ outpouring of love, and pray and do penance for those times, those relationships in which we’ve allowed greed to reign.

We trust the Lord does forgive us, when we repent, as Judas failed to do, because the Lord loves us, and desires not the death of the sinner, but his conversion.

May we open our hearts to growing in the selfless charity of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our Bishop, priests, and all of the faithful who will gather this evening for the Chrism Mass, and that the Charity of the Church of Cleveland may overflow like precious oil.

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

February 22 2018 - Chair of Peter - Unity and Peace and Enkindling the Fire of Charity

Just over a week into the Lenten of season, white vestments are donned, the Gloria is sung, as we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Peter. Since its earliest days, the Roman Church has especially commemorated the authority of the Petrine office—that the successor of St. Peter continues a ministry of the utmost importance to the Church of Christ.

The Opening Prayer spoke of how God protects us from the tempests, the storms of the world, by founding the Church on the rock of Peter’s confession of faith. The successors of Peter, the Popes, throughout the century have helped the Church maintain faithfulness to the authentic Gospel, through heresies, schisms, the rise of false religions, atheistic ideologies. The faithfulness of the Pope to the Word of God will enable the Church to outlast every earthly enemy—individual, nation, or rival religion. In fact, he leads to the Church in driving back the darkness, driving back the errors, beating back and knocking down the gates and ramparts of hell.

This feast falling during the season of Lent is significant. Much of our attention throughout Lent is interior: am I fasting enough, am I praying enough, am I giving enough. Yet a universal feast, such as this, causes us to look for help outside ourselves. We have had some of the holiest Popes in Church history just this last century.

We do well to reflect on the words and example of St. Pius X, Venerable Pius XII, St. John XXIII, Blessed Paul VI, St. John Paul II. Personally, this Lent I am reading through a series of meditation from the writings of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who always offers such a clear and penetrating insight for me.

The current Holy Father, Pope Francis, offered a beautiful reflection for the beginning of Lent. He reflected upon the great Poet Dante’s depiction of the lowest ring of hell, with Satan and Judas Iscariot encased in the coldest ice, in frozen and loveless isolation. Pope Francis invites the Church to consider how, this Lent, we might rekindle the fire of charity that has perhaps grown cold in us, how we may become more aware of the signs that love for God, love for the Church, love for the poor, love for family, has perhaps begun to cool.

The teaching of Peter, the structure and doctrine of the Church, the sacraments, exist that we may know unity and peace with God and with one another.

May our Lenten observances and our celebration of this great feast help us to experience the unity and peace, the freedom from sin, the fire of charity that our good and gracious God desires for each one of us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the Successor of St. Peter, our Holy Father, that he be strong in his mission and strengthen the whole Church in faith.

For all bishops, that they grow in union with Peter, share the zeal of Paul, and lead us by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through Faith taught by St. Peter and his successors.

For the conversion of all people to Christ, for those who reject the Faith, for those who have fallen away from the Church, for those who mock and persecute Christians, for hardened and unrepentant sinners, we pray to the Lord.

For the sick and the dying, the poor and the oppressed, and all victims of war, violence, and the selfishness of their fellow man, that they may experience the peace and presence of Christ, we pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Father, We rejoice in the call to belong to the Church, to believe in the Gospel, and to be united with the successors of your Apostles. Answer our prayers and increase our fidelity to the Gospel. Through Christ our Lord.

January 22, 2018 - For the legal protection of the unborn

45 Years ago today, the Supreme Court made a decision which has led to the death of ten times more babies than the deaths of all U.S. soldiers in all of our nation’s wars including the Civil War, the World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror.

So throughout the United States today, U.S. Catholics engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn.  This liturgy for life and justice calls for the wearing of purple vestments: purple, the color of grief and prayerful penance.  We grieve the abundance of sin and murder occurring on a daily basis for 45 years.  And we do penance even for those who do not repent.  And we commit ourselves to praying and working for authentic justice for the unborn.

Today we reaffirm our belief that abortion is wrong and that life is a gift from God, and we recognize the call of Catholics to be involved in political activity to work for the protection of the unborn: to work for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, to insist that our civil representatives work for pro-life legislation, and to work and create a world where every child is welcomed and cherished, where every life is sacred.

So, today, please keep the protection of the unborn in your constant prayers, and consider ways that you can contribute to the call.

The Gospel today speaks of the divided house of Satan. The Pro-choice, pro-abortion house is a divided house, because it treats one life as more important than another, it diminishes the value of life, it is a house built on a lie, built by the Father of Lies. Roe v. Wade will continue to cause division in our nation, as long as it exists, because Catholics and the other faith who recognize the truth of the sacredness of life will never give up, and we will never stop insisting that our civil representatives be pro-life.

The sooner life is protected in our nation, the sooner many of our other national wounds can begin to heal.

We hope and pray today, in the words of the Psalm, that “Justice" justice for the unborn, justice for all, "shall flourish in our time, and fullness of peace forever”.  For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord…

That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and ultimately reversed, we pray to the Lord…

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord...

That all women facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies may receive compassionate care and the support they need, let us pray to the Lord.

That all medical professionals involved in the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, may experience conversion of mind and heart and cease these activities, we pray to the Lord…

For all women who have had abortions, that they may seek out and experience God’s tender mercy, we pray to the Lord.

In thanksgiving for the many children who have been saved from abortion through the efforts of the pro-life movement, we pray to the Lord…

22nd Sunday in OT 2017 - "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

Our Gospel today is a continuation of our reading from last week--from the 16th chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Last week we heard Peter’s Confession. Jesus had done a sort of public opinion survey: “Who do people say that I am?” And he received a range of opinions. Peter, however, was given a great grace from the Father, an insight into Jesus’ true identity, and responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus then declared Peter, “the Rock”, the foundation stone of the Church. Peter’s confession, and the ministry of the successors of St. Peter, the Popes, have been a source of stability and power for the Church throughout the ages.

Then this week, we have an interesting twist. Just a few moments later, Jesus lays out what it means to be the Son of God, what that entails. It means he has come to suffer and die. As Son of God, Jesus is the one sent into the midst of fallen humanity to suffer and die to save us from eternal damnation.
Peter goes from hero to zero pretty quickly, when he denies that Jesus should submit himself to suffering and death. No sooner does Peter finish putting his foot in his mouth than Jesus thunders back the words: “Get behind me, Satan.” One can hardly imagine a more stern and bone-chilling rebuke…not a very good first day on the job for the first Pope. Peter you have become a stumbling block, an obstacle to the will of God, to the mission of God’s son.

Why did Peter fail here? “For thinking has human beings do,” the Lord says. Now, what does that mean? Don’t we all think as human beings do? Well, not entirely. Peter’s Confession of Jesus as Son of God moments before was a result of careful and attentive listening to the Lord’s words, being open to the Wisdom of God. But Peter’s misunderstanding here, his impulsive claim that Jesus shouldn’t have to suffer, wasn’t the result of spiritual discernment. Peter’s mind and thoughts aren’t on the will of God, but on the fear of human suffering. This wasn’t the first time Peter acted on fear rather than faith, nor was it his last.

Remember, a few weeks ago, that wonderful story of Jesus walking on the water? The Lord beckons to Peter, “come to me”, and for a few steps, Peter was able to walk on the water toward the Lord. But what happened? Peter let his fear take over. He takes his mind and heart off the Lord, and begins to sink. Same thing here in this story. Peter allows the fear of suffering to replace the power of faith.
In this way, Peter is symbolic of all of us. The early Church, had such great esteem for Peter, not only because he was the first Pope and a martyr, but because he is so fallible, he reminds us of us. I encourage you to read through the Gospel stories of Peter. He’ll remind you of someone, yourself.

For all of us, so often, allow the fear of suffering to replace the power of faith. The fear of suffering keeps us from prayer. The fear of suffering keeps us from penance. The fear of suffering keeps us from the Confessional, and keeps us from charitable service.

There’s a little suffering, isn’t there, in turning off the television, or prying yourself away from the computer screen, in order to sit down with the Word of God, the rosary, to drive up to the adoration chapel? It’s not always delightful to read from the Scriptures, is it? After all, the Scriptures prick our consciences, they remind us, they show us, how far we are from the being the people God made us to be.

Going to confession involves a bit of suffering, the humbling of pride. It is uncomfortable at times to kneel before the priest and acknowledging all those embarrassing sins.. And so we begin make excuses: the priest is just a man, I can tell my sins to God directly, my sins aren’t that bad anyway, I don’t have time to go confession. But all those excuses are far from the truth. And we tell the excuses because of fear, we are afraid to admit we were wrong, we are afraid to change ingrained bad habits.
St. Therese of Lisieux said, “it is more through suffering than through eloquent preaching, that God wills to establish his kingdom in souls.” Coming to Church once a week, to hear a more-or-less thoughtful inspiring sermon, is just part of the spiritual life, an indispensable part, yes, but still, just a part of it. Turning away from earthly pursuits and earthly goods in order to pursue heavenly ones throughout the week is also a major part of the Christian life.

After rebuking Peter, the Lord explains the necessity of his suffering and explains the cost of discipleship. This led St. Paul, writing to the Romans, to exhort them, as we heard in our second reading:  I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

You can bet St. Paul is urging the Romans not to shy away from the spiritual practices that involve some suffering. Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, are not just for Lent. For Christians, in a sense, “Semper Quadragesima” it is always Lent, because prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are sure means of growing in sanctity, and disciplining our bodies for the Lord.

St. Paul urges the Romans not to conform themselves to their age, their culture. As Christians, we don’t look to the example of Hollywood celebrities or professional athletes on how we are to live our lives. We are to be suspicious when advertisements tell us we need the next, new device to be happy. We are to be guarded against the new psychological models that come out of liberal academia, that explain away or contradict the Catholic faith.

Rather, we renew our minds by turning to the Word of God, the wisdom of the Saints, the doctors of the Church. I think every Catholic should have some sort of spiritual reading, for the renewal of our minds, at all times. That’s one nice thing about the internet, we have access to a treasure trove of theological and spiritual writing. If you aren’t currently reading anything about our faith, pick up a book by Pope Benedict, Cardinal Sarah, or Scott Hahn, or one of the great Catholic classics like The Imitation of Christ. Don’t like reading? Listen to something from the Lighthouse Media display on your way to work. This fall, starting Tuesday, September 12th, consider attending our adult-education opportunity where we will watch and discuss wonderful videos on Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, G.K. Chesterton, and others.

Renew your minds, Paul says, “so that you may discern what is the will of God” for your lives. Jesus rebuked Peter for thinking with the mind of his fallen humanity, fearful of suffering, conformed to the Spirit of the World. Mayh the Sacraments and spiritual practices of our faith help us to offer our bodies, our minds, our very lives as sacrifices to the Father, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

Homily: Tuesday of Holy Week 2017 - The sin of Judas Iscariot

Holy Week is a sacred time for us to truly draw close to Our Lord as we reflect upon His profound love for us sinners. He goes to the cross to defeat sin and restore life. Today’s Gospel reveals something quite important about the nature of sin.

Before Judas betrays Jesus in the garden, we read today how Judas had already betrayed the Lord in his heart. We read how the Spirit of Satan entered Judas already at the Last Supper.
Jesus detects Judas’ interior betrayal, so Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."… and Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

Judas leaves the meal before its conclusion. Judas breaks his communion with Jesus, his communion with the Apostles gathered around Him. Sin and division leads Judas out of communion with Jesus and the Twelve, and this was sin which took place in Judas’ heart.

John also points out earlier that Judas had already begun accustoming himself to sinful thoughts, like greed. Unrepented sins from the past open us to graver future sins.

We then read how Judas goes off into the night. It is always darkness, it is always night when we forsake the Lord. Sin is always a turning away from his light—the light of his truth, the light of his moral goodness. Like Judas, even our interior sins, can be real and serious and mortal when we reject truth and goodness in our minds and hearts.

In the proceeding passage, which we’ll hear on Holy Thursday, Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles, even Judas’. Jesus had been reaching out beyond Judas' treachery to wash his feet right up to the final moment when Judas closes his heart to Christ and opens it to the devil. Even as we contemplate sin, Jesus is reaching out in love and compassion, urging us to turn away from our dark thoughts and plotting.

And the Good News of Good Friday is that even after the betrayal of sin, the Lord does not abandon us. He goes to the cross for us. He invites us to come out of the night back into his light, and to allow Him to banish Satan from our minds and hearts, to rejoin Him at the table, back in the light of Communion.

Our prayers for sinners who have abandoned Christ for the night are powerful this week. As we fast and pray with the Lord, we do well to bring to Him all those who choose to not bring themselves to Him. We pray that before it’s too late they will reject sin, reject Satan, reject faithlessness, error, heresy, and hear the Lord calling them home.

We do well to pray also for ourselves, to take ever more seriously the call to turn away from all sin, even our venial sins, to allow the Lord to fill us with his light and life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our Holy Week observances may bring renewal in faith, hope, and love throughout the Church.
That civil leaders will use their authority to protect the dignity of human life and the well-being of the poor, especially the unborn.  We pray to the Lord.
For deliverance from all evil and all temptation: for those under the influence of drug abuse, addiction, insanity, occultism, atheism, sexual perversion, greed, and any spiritual evils which degrade the human person.
For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter, that these weeks of Lent may bring them purification and enlightenment in the ways of Christ.  We pray to the Lord.
For those experiencing any kind of hardship or sorrow, isolation or illness: that the tenderness of the Father’s love will comfort them.  We pray to the Lord.